Eager to experience an authentic Oktoberfest festival, but unable to hop on a plane to Munich at the moment? You’ve come to the right place!
At The Bierkeller, our team throw unmissable Bavarian-style bashes in the UK almost every day (with special live Oktoberfest events held every Saturday night throughout October!), so you can rest assured that we know our lederhosen from our bratwurst.
From ensuring you’re properly dressed for the occasion to helping you prepare a soundtrack of oompah singalong songs, carry on reading to discover some of the very best ways that The Bierkeller team can help you celebrate Oktoberfest in the UK!
What is Oktoberfest?
The stein-clinking celebration of the year, Oktoberfest is a traditional German beer festival held annually from mid-September to October 1st in Munich, Germany.
However, this festival isn’t just about drinking steins upon steins of refreshing bier, it’s the world’s largest celebration of Bavarian culture – which includes the entertaining games, traditional garments, and delicious Bavarian food.
So, how and when did Oktoberfest start? Well, the very first Oktoberfest was held in the year 1810 to celebrate the marriage of the future King Ludwig to Princess Therese of Sace-Hildburghausen. The festivities included a massive feast, games, and horse races, but have since evolved to include more modern attractions like fairground rides.
Celebrating Oktoberfest in the UK
Attracting more than six million visitors over the 16 days that the festival is celebrated, this immense event is one of the best ways to quench your thirst for fun, but what if you can’t get to Munich this year?
While it’s true that Oktoberfest is well-known around the world for being a celebration of beer, there’s so much more to this annual festival than just this refreshing alcoholic beverage. Find out how you can enjoy all the fun of the festival without even leaving the UK.
Don your lederhosen
If you’re searching for high-quality lederhosen to get you in the Oktoberfest spirit, then you’re in luck. For UK Oktoberfest fans, there’s plenty of traditional-style lederhosen and dirndl outfits that you can shop online.
Regardless of whether you’re on the lookout for an affordable fancy-dress-style outfit or something a little more durable and authentic, there’s lots of historic lederhosen styles to explore.
Plus, a little-known fact about high-quality lederhosen is its handy ability to resist rain – making it the perfect outfit for a day of drinking as any spilled beer should be prevented from staining your classic clothes.
Immerse yourself in the music
Planning on throwing your own Oktoberfest party in the UK? Don’t skimp on the soundtrack! Ensuring you’ve lined up some of the best Oktoberfest songs of all time (we’re talking catchy choruses and well-known folk songs) will help you to keep the celebrations alive and feeling authentic all night long.
If you choose to spend Oktoberfest at The Bierkeller, then you’re in luck! Our special live Oktoberfest events promise a fantastisch live band and endless classic Oompah-inspired songs that’ll get you standing on our bierhaus benches!
So, make sure you brush up on your German – you’ll need it to keep up with these cheery ditties!
Eins, Zwei, G’suffa – chug.
Experience all the fun of the fairground
While the first Oktoberfest has horse races as entertainment, modern day celebrations favour all the fun of the fair! The Munich-based Oktoberfest is home to a gigantic fairground carnival that’s a big hit with kids and adults alike thanks to the variety of rides.
For UK residents, however, you needn’t travel all the way to Munich to get your adrenaline pumping!
Ride Rater’s funfair calendar shows all the upcoming funfairs and their UK locations for the year, so why not pay a visit to one of these exciting fairs this October?
Book a wine-tasting
Keen to celebrate Oktoberfest in the UK, but not a big fan of bier?
You’ll be pleased to hear that Oktoberfest actually has its very own wine tent (The Weinzelt) as well as other smaller tents that will happily pour you a glass of wine – including those with a little fizz if you prefer sparkling wine or champagne!
This means getting into the Oktoberfest spirit in the UK can be as simple as booking yourself a spot at a nearby wine tasting event with a few of your pals.
You could also pick up a selection of wines that Germany is famous for including Riesling, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Blanc to host your very own at-home wine-tasting – delicious!
Dish up some Bavarian delights
From juicy traditional bratwursts to punchy sauerkraut and soft and chewy pretzels, there’s no end of delicious Bavarian dishes that you can either try your own hand at or get a taste of at a German-inspired eatery.
At The Bierkeller’s UK venues, we offer a variety of both Bavarian-style foods, including wunderbar German sausages and super-sized pretzels, as well as crowd-pleasers like sourdough pizzas and crispy chicken wings.
Join The Bierkeller for Oktoberfest
Eager to take part in the festivities? Say ‘hallo!’ to Oktoberfest in the UK when you visit one of our participating Bavarian-inspired Bierkeller venues.
Every Saturday in October, our Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Grantham and Nottingham Bierkeller venues will be holding a live Oktoberfest special – packed with oompah-inspired entertainment.
No matter whether you want to experience an authentic Bavarian knees-up while listening to a live band or get involved in a host of games led by a lederhosen-clad host, we’ve got you covered!
Plus, with a DJ playing all your favourite oompah singalong songs ‘til the early hours and no end of our irresistible specialty German Oktoberfest bier in sight,
For just £20 a ticket, you’ll secure a reserved bench, an evening of Oktoberfest entertainment, and a tasty super-sized pretzel. To wash it all down, you’ll also get to choose between a mini Jager or a shot of sour schnapps alongside a stein of haus bier, cider, or classic cocktail.
These exciting events are always quick to sell-out, so why not head online to our Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, or Nottingham venue to secure your spot on one of our classic bierhaus benches this October?
Book your bench today!